Research Supervisor Connect
Dr Pamela O’Neill is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and was awarded the honour Duine Urramach by the Celtic Council of Australia. Pamela is series editor of the Sydney Series in Celtic Studies, co-editor of the Australian Celtic Journal, convenor of the Celtic Council of Australia, vice-president of the Aisling Society of Sydney, vice-president of the Irish National Association, vice-president of the Cornish Association of NSW and public officer of the Australian and New Zealand Law and History Society. She was founder, president and journal editor of the Australian Early Medieval Association, which has made her an honorary life member. Pamela’s research interests centre around the early medieval history, archaeology, law, and language of Scotland and Ireland. She is also interested in the contribution of Celtic migrants to Australian history and culture.
English and Writing, School of Art, Communication and English (SACE)
Research Interests
Pamela’s principal area of research is in Early Irish Law. She is currently preparing an edition and translation of Críth Gablach (early Irish status text) with commentary, emphasizing the relationship between the text and its material culture context.
Pamela has an ongoing research interest in the relationship between landscape, material culture, archaeology, law and history in early medieval Scotland and Ireland. This was the basis of a conference strand, (Re)constructing History through Landscape and Practice she co-convened at Simon Fraser University (Vancouver) in 2019, bringing together international scholars and practitioners to examine this relationship. A book chapter based on fieldwork conducted in 2017 examined the relationship between stone sculpture, place-names, literature and a postulated early medieval travel route in Scotland. Further fieldwork in 2019 investigating travel by sea between early medieval sites in Scotland and Ireland resulted in a published book chapter.
The historic use of the Scottish Gaelic language in northern New South Wales is also a current research interest.
1. If you are interested in this research opportunity, you are encouraged to email the potential supervisor directly. To find their email address, follow the link provided to their profile page.
When contacting them, you should describe your academic educational background and research experience, and include an academic transcript and CV (resume). You should also include a research proposal (1500-2000 words); refer to How to write a research proposal for guidance. You should explain why you want to undertake a PhD and how you believe your research topic aligns with the supervisor’s own research. You may be asked to supply a sample of written work.
2. Your potential supervisor may offer you advice on developing your research proposal before you submit your application. You will need to provide a written statement from your potential supervisor that they have agreed to supervise your project.
3. If you would like general advice in your subject area before submitting an application, contact an academic advisor listed here: https://www.sydney.edu.au/arts/study/postgraduate-research/postgraduate-research-contact.html
The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 3434